USAF Afghanistan: Neurosurgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Randall McCafferty Saves Child’s Life
November 27, 2007
Article Tools
Print this article
Email a friend
Leave a comment- Please Share This Article:
-
Every time someone in the world protests about how bad we Americans are, including many here at home, you read a story about someone like Dr. McCafferty. I guess when we have leftists like Sunsara Taylor that hate this country with an unrivaled passion - no wonder that so many hate us when we do so much good throughout the world.
Air Force Neurosurgeon Saves Afghan Child’s Life
American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2007 – An Air Force neurosurgeon assigned to Craig Joint Theater Hospital here saved the life of an 8-month-old Afghan girl earlier this month.
The child, from Parwan province, was originally taken by her parents to El Salem Egyptian Field Hospital with symptoms including excessive head growth, eye abnormalities and irritability.
After Egyptian physicians referred her to the U.S. hospital, Air Force neurosurgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Randall McCafferty diagnosed a congenital brain abnormality called an “arachnoid cyst” at the base of the young girl’s brain.
“The cyst had caused blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, thus causing hydrocephalus (commonly known as ‘water on the brain’),” McCafferty said. “Left untreated, the condition could have eventually been fatal.”
Thanks to the recent deployment of neurosurgical assets to Afghanistan, McCafferty was able to operate on the child Nov. 12 and again Nov. 20, removing the cyst and leaving the girl in good condition.
“I was happy that I could bring specialized training to this region that did not previously exist and that with those skills I was able to provide an opportunity at a future life for both the child and her family that likely would not otherwise exist,” McCafferty said.
The doctor also said he felt fortunate to have the support of his command, colleagues and the intensive care unit staff at Craig Joint Theater Hospital.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
Popularity: 20% [?]
Related Articles:
- Balad Air Base, Iraq: Hero’s Highway
- Afghanistan: ‘It is clear that Afghan citizens want a safer country’
- Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan: Munitions Cache Hidden In Boys School
- “God bless you for helping the Afghan people” - Afghan Villagers
- U.S. Special Forces aid Afghan boy
- Afghanistan: 101st Airborne Takes Over For The 82nd!
- Afghanistan: Weapons Cache Uncovered Via Reward Program
Comments
Got something to say?
